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Tribute to Dr. Craig Andreiko

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With the death of Dr. Craig A. Andreiko on Sunday, August 25, 2013, the orthodontic profession lost a gifted innovator who transformed orthodontics. Andreiko's career at Ormco Corporation spanned 43 years, lastly as technical director for new product development. He was 63 years old.

With 74 assigned or pending patents, Andreiko's inventions are mainstays in today's orthodontic practices: anatomically based arch forms, early light-force wires, braided archwires and brazed mesh for weld-free pads on direct-bonded brackets, which so greatly improved bond strength that clinicians felt comfortable switching from banded to direct-bonded brackets.

According to Dr. David Sarver, "Eliminating bands meant we could treat crowding without having to account for the 7mm or so of space that bands created, expanding exponentially the option for treating cases in a non-extraction manner. Mesh was a game changer and it was Craig's vision that made it happen."

Andreiko also invented Orthos/Titanium Orthos and Insignia Advanced Smile Design, a comprehensive digital treatment solution with customized brackets, wires and placement trays. He was intimately involved in early lingual appliances, the TARG setup method and the development of the rhomboid shape for brackets. He revolutionized heart therapy by writing the code for and developing a catheter for Edwards Lifesciences.

Vicente Reynal, Ormco president, witnessed Andreiko's value firsthand saying, "I feel honored to have worked alongside such an amazing person. I will never forget brainstorming new technological advances. More importantly, I will never forget how incredibly humble he was. I know that Craig's spirit and determination will always be with us."

Dr. Larry White, clinician and past editor of the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics, commented: "My friend Craig had the passionate intensity of a pioneering savant that fueled his imagination and creativity and which, subsequently, resulted in a myriad of inventions that benefited us all.

Dr. Steve Tracey's sentiments summed up the general consensus of opinions about Andreiko, "The thing I admired most about him was his selflessness. Of all the amazing things he did, I never saw him worry about getting credit. He was a giant in the profession whose intellectual capacity was matched only by the size of his heart."

After receiving his dental and orthodontic education at Loma Linda University, Andreiko served as assistant clinical professor there from 1994. He was the author of numerous research studies and papers, was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon in 2010 and was a PADI Master Scuba Diver who produced underwater adventure videos. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Jean; son, David; daughter, Sarah; father, Andy (former president of Ormco); brother, Scott; and sister, Jody. A celebration of Craig's life was held in late September.

Charitable gifts can be made to the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Office of Development, 1441 Eastlake Avenue, Room 8302, Los Angeles, CA 90033

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